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Winter Mallard.

Discussion

16 replies
Posted by Peter Cairns on January 8, 2010 at 10:46 AM
Winter Mallard.
18c below today and diesel frozen in the car so working very locally! This female Mallard is sitting on a snow drift about a metre deep - she can't take off which is why she looks a bit bemused. A help in hand was eventually required!

Canon 5dII, 500mm, ISO200.

Peter Cairns
www.northshots.com
Posted by Ian Butler on January 8, 2010 at 10:52 AM
Great shot Peter. Like the low angle. Its been around -7c here so I definately dont envy you being up there. :toast:
Posted by Mark Davies on January 8, 2010 at 11:06 AM
BRRRRR!
And it looks it too ...Super image ...one for the mush police ....
A squarer crop with a slice off the top seems to add more impact .
Posted by Andrew Harrington on January 8, 2010 at 11:08 AM
Very nice. I can't imagine you looked much different.
Posted by Craig Churchill on January 8, 2010 at 11:17 AM
Very nice,really shows the situation the birds are in at the moment a real struggle to feed!!

Remember gloves!!!! Or Powersaw in the shed!!!

Craig
www.craigchurchill.co.uk :wink:
Posted by Ian Mason on January 8, 2010 at 11:21 AM
Superb! The snow on the bill is the icing on the cake. Haven't heard of diesel freezing here, but my stethescope in the car has frozen, literally, into a beautiful s-shape! ( now I believe people when they say it is cold)
Posted by Chris Johnstone on January 8, 2010 at 11:57 AM
There is a definite cold temperature feeling about this shot and the muted background just adds to it.

Your usual top shelf stuff, Pete.

Chris
Posted by Heath McDonald on January 8, 2010 at 12:12 PM
Really like this, particularly the diffused lower part of the duck and ice on the bill.

Excellent!

regards

Heath
Posted by Maggie Campbell on January 8, 2010 at 1:19 PM
Nice shot Ian. As already said the snow on the beak just makes the image. Think I agree with Mark re a crop off the bottom but still like it as it is. :smile: :wavey:
Posted by Kim Connolly on January 8, 2010 at 1:56 PM
I love this, a beautiful composition. Really stunning! :toast:
Posted by John MacTavish on January 8, 2010 at 2:12 PM
Totally undecided on this one.
On one hand I like the winter colours and cold feel and on the other I dislike the mush and head on view.

Stick a gallon of Kerosene in a full tank of diesel, stops any winter problems and if by chance you get your tank dipped it don't arouse suspicion by being coloured.
Posted by Robert Lawrence on January 8, 2010 at 3:42 PM
Nice one.
Posted by Ian Haskell on January 8, 2010 at 5:38 PM
Superb common species. Lovely simple composition that has worked extremely well IMO. Take it easy in the cold.

Ian
Posted by Ian Macdermott on January 8, 2010 at 6:06 PM
Lovely shot Peter

just about sums the weather up :toast:
Posted by Sandra Hendrikse on January 9, 2010 at 9:38 AM
Wonderful image. I like it a lot. :smile:
Posted by Guy Rogers on January 9, 2010 at 11:21 AM
Hello Pete.

I've never really been into these mush type pictures but I do like this one as the mush ( hate that word ) really gives a feel to how cold the conditions are.

I would leave the image as posted and not crop as the space you have given this also adds to the cold feel of the image .

Any way love the image and the snow on the beak makes it just that much better.

All the best Guy.

:wavey: :wavey: :wavey:
Posted by Craig Jones on January 9, 2010 at 11:45 AM
Love the effect of the snow at the base of the image,the portrait composition looks great and it really captures that winter feel,very nice Pete :wink: :wavey: